Lamp construction having column switching means



Feb. 5, 1952 P. c. cALlssl 2,584,548

LAMP CONSTRUCTION HAVING COLUMN SWITCHING MEANS Filed June 10, 1950 BKM@ ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1952 LAMP CONSTRUCTION HAVING COLUMN SWITCHING MEANS Paul C. Calissi, Darby, Pa.

Application June 10, 1950, Serial No. 167,338

3 Claims. (Cl. {M0- 123) This invention relates generally to portable electric lamps of the floor and table type and more particularly to improvements in the means for switching the lamp on and 01T, it being among the principal objects of the present invention to provide the lamp with an actuating switch concealed in the vertical standard of the lamp and operable by rotation of the tubular shell which conventionally forms the external part of the lamp standard.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a lamp of conventional external appearance a simple, inexpensive and effective switching device which is entirely concealed from view and which is readily operated by grasping the tubular shell of the lamp standard at any convenient point along the vertical length thereof and rotating it about its vertical axis in one direction or the other to open or close the switch.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide in a portable lamp having a concealed switch operative as above described, a simple, inexpensive and effective arrangement for facilitating mounting of the switch in the lamp standard, for wiring the lamp and its concealed operatingswitch and for servicing or replacing the wiring to the switch as may be necessary without requiring disassembly of the lamp as a whole.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention eonsists substantially in the combination, construc tion, location and relative arrangement of parts, as described hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as iinally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the present invention:

` Figure l is an elevational view of a lamp as might appear when constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the standard or post section of the lamp; l

Figure 3 is an elevational view of that portion of the lamp standard in which is housed the lamp-actuating switch; e

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the switchsupporting connector member of the lamp standard; and

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views as taken on the line of Figure 2 respectively showing the external tubular shell rotated into its two positions for control of the lampoperating switch.

Referring now more particularly to the dravvings, it will be observed that the present invention has been shown as incorporated in a floor lamp of more or less conventional external appearance, having a base I0, a standard li, a socket iixture I2, and a lamp shade I3. As in lamps of conventional construction, the socket fixture l2 is supported in vertically spaced relation with respect to the lamp base i0 by metal tubing M of requisite length, this tubing being sectionalized, as shown, to provide a pair of sections 14a and Mb secured together in vertically spaced relation by a connector member or hickey iii of the form most clearly shown in Figure 4. In the construction of lamp shown, the connector member I5 is located in the upper region of the standard II, it being understood, however, that in accordance with the principles of the present invention the connector member I5 may be disposed at any convenient point of the standard I I.

The connector' member i5 is of generally C- shape in vertical central cross section (see Figure 2) said member being provided with vertically spaced upper and lower body portions I6 and Il each of generally circular form and connected together by a vertically extending intermediate part I8. The portions I6 and Il of the connector member l5 are respectively provided with vertically alined tapped openings I9 and 2c adapted, respectively, to threadedly receive the pipe sections Ma and Mb, it being noted at this point that the portion I8 interconnecting the tapped parts I6 and l1 is generallyilat and disposed to one side of the common vertical axis of the tapped openings i9 and 20.

Extending between the base I0 and the socket fixture i2 of the lamp in concentric embracing relation with respect to the interconnected pipe sections Ma and Mb is a cylindrical shell 2i, the lower end of this shell being suitably seated 1in a cup-shaped member 22, while the upper end of the shell is similarly seated in a cup-shaped member 23. These cup-shaped members 22 and 23, which are suitably connected in vertically spaced relation to the central supporting post I4, as by a nut 2,4, clamping the member :'22 against the base Il! of the lamp and by a mit 25 clamping the member 23 against the top end of the connector member I5, are arranged with their circular flanges presenting toward each other and in embracing relation with respect to the opposite ends of the shell 2I. The shell 2| is thus held between the cup-shaped members 22 and 23 against lateral displacement with respect thereto, the shell being freely oscillatable about its vertical axis.

The vertically extending intermediate part I8 of the connector member I5 is provided in its front face with a recess 25 of generally rectangular shape, the bottom of the recess 25 being centrally apertured, as at 21. The recess 25 is adapted to nonrotatably receive the body of a conventional single-pole switch 28 of the snap type, this switch having a tumbler-actuated switch lever .2f-i, The switch 23 is mounted with its supporting nipple 3B projecting through the aperture 2l in the recessed portion ofthe member the projecting end of the nipple being engaged by a conventional locking nut 3I to hold the switch 25 securely upon the member i5, as shown. It will be noted that the switch 28 is so mounted in position upon the member I5 as to present the rearwardly projecting switch lever 2S thereof u1 position to be actuated by movement thereof in a plane normal to the axis of the shell El. It will be noted, also, that the vertically extending rear portion of the member I5 is cut away, as at 32, to provide a substantial clearance space 33 between the rear surface of the member I5 and the proximate wall portion of the shell 2I. As most clearly appears in Figures 2, 5 and 6, the switch lever 29 projects freely into this space 33.

Suitably secured to the internal wall surface ci the shell 2| is a vertically extending channel member this member being relatively so arranged as to freely receive therein the projectg end of the switch operating lever 29. The switch lever 29 is operatively engaged by the elongated channel 34 during assembly of the lamp by the simple expedient of registering the channel with the switch lever when the shell 2l is vertically slipped down over the central supporting post is o the lamp. It will be apparent that with the switch lever 29 operatively engaged by the channel 34 of the oscillatable shell 2i, oscillation of the latter in one direction or the other, through the intervention of the channel will shift the lever into its on and off position, as respectively shown in Figures 5 and G.

in order to facilitate wiring of the lamp constrncteeL in accordance with the present invention, the shell 2l may be provided, if desired, with an opening 35 in the wall portion thereof immediately confronting the switch 23. This opening affords access to the interior of the shell 2i in the immediate region oi the switch for eiiecting the necessary wiring connections, as indicated by the reference numeral 35, to the switch and to the lamp socket (not shown). Of course, any other arrangement may be provided for eiecting the desired wiring connection, as, for example, by completing the wiring to the lamp switch and socket prior to assembly oi the shell 2i upon the supporting post I4. 1n the latter event the access opening 35 is not necessary, but where such access opening is provided it may be covered by a cover plate 31 removably secured to the shell. ZI by screws 38.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the lamp of the present invention is provided with an operating switch which is completely concealed from view within the shell 2l and that the switch is readily operable by simple oscillation of the shell in one direction or the other. Inasmuch as the shell extends the full length of the lamp standard, it provides a means which is always within comfortable reach of a. person either sitting or standing for convenient operation of the switch.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit of the invention, and it will be accordingly understood that it is intended to claim the invention broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

l. In a lamp including a base and a stationary vertical support secured thereto, a switch carrier interposed in the vertical length of said support, said carrier having vertically spaced portions respectively connected to proximate ends of vertically spaced sections of said support, a snapswitch unit non-rotatably mounted upon said carrier intermediate the vertically spaced portions thereof, said switch unit having an operating lever shiftable in a plane normal to the axis of said support, a tubular shell rotatable about said support, said shell being of uniform diameter throughout the portion thereof which extends from well below the bottom end of said carrier to the top end thereof, means for supporting said tubular shell against axial movement relatively to said support, and a vertically extending channel secured to said shell internally thereof for operative engagement with said operating lever of the switch unit, whereby upon rotation of said shell about its vertical axis in one direction or the other said switch is operated. to open or close the lamp circuit.

2. In a lamp of the character described, a switch carrier in the form oi an elongated main body having a pair of vertically spaced axially alined generally circular portions and a substantially flat interconnecting portion laterally offset from the vertical axis of said alined vertically spaced portions, a pair of tubular post sections respectively connected to the opposite ends of said switch carrier in alinement with the vertical axis thereof, a switch of the type having a freely projecting operating lever mounted upon said fiat, interconnecting portion of the carrier', said switch being mounted with its main body part disposed within the coniines of the vertically spaced portions of the carrier and with its operating lever projecting free from the rear surface of the intermediate flat portion of the carrier, an axially lixed tubular shell embracingv said post sections and the switch carrier, said shell being rotatable about the vertical axis of said post sections and being of the same concentric spacing relatively to said post sections throughout the region of said switch carrier and for a substantial distance below the latter', and an elongated channel secured to said shell internally thereof and in the region of said switch carrier, the mouth of said channel presenting radially inward of the shell for free accommodation therein of the operating lever of said switch whereby upon rotation of said shell about its vertical axis the switch is operated.

3. In a lamp of the character described, a. supporting standard for the lamp including an inner relatively fixed tubular conduit for electrical conductors and an outer shell externally embracing said conduit, means for supporting said shell in axially xed, concentric relation to said Conduit and for rotation relatively to the latter, a switch-supporting member mounted in said conduit intermediate the length 'thereof and within the confines of said outer embracing shell, said member having vertically spaced body portions respectively connected to vertically spaced sections of said conduit and an intermediate body portion extending lengthwise of the lamp standard and disposed to one side of its vertical axis, said intermediate body portion of said member being provided with a laterally opening recess extending longitudinally between the vertically spaced sections of said conduit and with a flattened outer surface disposed in a plane extending chordally of said outer shell, said recess providing a seat for the body of a lever-actuated switch and said iiattened outer surface providing an elongated free space between said switchsupporting member and said rotatable outer shell, a snap-switch mounted in said recessed seat with the lever thereof projecting into the elongated space aforesaid, and a vertically extending channel secured to the inner Wall surface of said outer shell with the mouth of the channel presenting toward the vertical axis of the lamp standard and the inner edges of its side walls disposed in closely spaced relation to said attened outer surface of said switch-supporting member, said channel being adapted to receive therein said operating lever whereby upon 1'0- tation of said sheli in one direction or the other the switch lever is correspondingly shifted by said channel.

PAUL C. CALISSI.

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,124,009 Schneider July 19, 1938 2,205,580 Sher June 25, 1940 2,449,765 Brattain Sept. 21, 1948 

